Salinas to Otavalo is about 404 road miles (650 km): roughly 9 h 17 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3).
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Some roads are poorly maintained. They may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Distance by road | 404 mi (650 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E487 → E35 → E28A → E28B → E282 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Salinas to Otavalo: the shape of the trip
E40 (117 mi) and E35 (109 mi) carry about 56% of the 404 miles. It runs through 8 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Cañar, Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Salinas to Otavalo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E40 | 0–81 | 81 | Santa Elena, Guayas |
| local roads | 81–89 | 8 | Guayas |
| E40 | 89–125 | 36 | Guayas |
| local roads | 125–130 | 5 | Guayas, Cañar |
| E487 | 130–216 | 86 | Cañar, Guayas, Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 216–219 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 219–224 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| local roads | 224–229 | 5 | Chimborazo |
| connecting roads | 229–232 | 3 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 232–326 | 94 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 326–341 | 15 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 341–355 | 14 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 355–376 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 376–383 | 7 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 383–386 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 386–392 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 392–402 | 10 | Pichincha, Imbabura |
| local roads | 402–404 | 2 | Imbabura |
- Mile 43 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Guayas → Cañar (province line)
- Mile 142 of this route: Cañar → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Guayas → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 311 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 393 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
Places worth a stop between Salinas and Otavalo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil (mile 86), Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna de Colta (mile 216), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil (mile 86), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 260), Museum House of Sucre (mile 341), Pambamarca Fortress Complex (mile 385)
Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil
Ecuador's cacao takes center stage at Museo Nacional del Cacao in Guayaquil, a cultural institution devoted to the history, culture and international reach of the country's cocoa.
Teatro Sánchez Aguilar
Opened in 2012 in the La Puntilla area of Samborondón canton, Teatro Sánchez Aguilar was created to boost cultural and artistic life across Greater Guayaquil.
Laguna de Colta
Laguna de Colta is a lake of about 275 hectares in Colta canton, Chimborazo province, in Ecuador's central highlands, home to native birds and many kinds of colorful fish.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato
Ambato Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, faces Juan Montalvo Park between Bolívar and Montalvo streets in the capital of Tungurahua province. It has held the rank of minor basilica since April 1961.
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
Museum House of Sucre
Sucre House is a museum in Quito's historic center, established in 1977 by Ecuador's Ministry of Defence.
Pambamarca Fortress Complex
Northern Ecuador's Pambamarca Fortress Complex holds ruins of many pukaras built by the Incas in the late 15th century to overcome resistance from the Cayambe chiefdom.
Once you reach Otavalo
Laguna de San Pablo
Lago San Pablo is a lake at 2,700 meters in Imbabura, Ecuador, covering about 583 hectares with a depth of around 83 meters, at the foot of Imbabura volcano.
More drives to Otavalo
- Latacunga to Otavalo
- Ambato to Otavalo
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Otavalo
- Riobamba to Otavalo
- Quevedo to Otavalo
- Babahoyo to Otavalo
From Salinas to other places in Ecuador
- Salinas to San Luis de Pambil
- Salinas to Guaranda
- Salinas to Alausi
- Salinas to Guano
- Salinas to Chugchilán
- Salinas to Baños
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salinas to Otavalo?
About 9 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 404 miles.
How far is Otavalo from Salinas by car?
About 404 miles (650 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Salinas to Otavalo drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Duran, in Guayas province; Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salinas to Otavalo use?
In order: E40, E487, E35, E28A, E28B and E282. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salinas to Otavalo?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Cacao - Guayaquil (museum, mile 86, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Sánchez Aguilar (theater, mile 90, 0.7 mi from the route); Laguna de Colta (lagoon, mile 216, 1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.